Power driven filing apparatus



Dec. 10, 1957 R. P. SCHOLFIELD ET L 2,316,000

- POWER DRIVEN FILING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 27'. 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l gmmam INVENTORS RICHARD F2 SCHOLFIELD HENRY J. GIFFORD ATTORNEYS Dec. 10, 1957 R. P. SCHOLFIELD ETAL 2,816,000

POWER DRIVEN FILING APPARATUS 5 Sheeis-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1951 1957 R. P. SCHOLFIELD ETAL 2,816,000

POWER DRIVEN FILING APPARATUS Filed Aug. .27, 1951 I 5 Sheets-Sheet "ll 1""! llrialli'l'alll'llll IIIIIII'IIIIIIIIIII!III!IlllllllltlliilllllllIIll!!! I llillllllll' 1 I 1 II II 5 R. 0 7 ML R O w f I .l.. vr M D I mm W H MW 7 B ATTORNEYS Dec. 10, 1957 RF. SCHOLFIELD ETAL 2,316,000

POWER DRIVEN FILING APPARATUS A Filed Aug. 27, 1951 5 Sheets-She et 5 HEWITT- 57i...

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.II -'IIIIIIIIIIIHIIILI INVENTOR5 RICHARD F? SCHOLFIELD HENRY J. GIFFORD ATTORNEYS United States Patent POWER DRIVEN FILING APPARATUS Richard P. Scholfield, White Plains, and Henry J. Gifford, Bronx, N. Y., assiguors to Simpla Research & Mfg. go klne, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Application August 27, 1951, Serial No. 243,821

Claims. (Cl. 312-468) The present invention relates to apparatus for storing materials and is concerned primarily with the provision of means for bringing the stored materials to a position of access by an operator, to facilitate removing the material, placing the material in position for storage, or otherwise operating upon or manipulating the material.

The invention has particular utility in connection with filing apparatus of the type in which a great plurality of cardsor other documents to be filed are mounted for movement to a position of access by anoperator so that the cards may be examined, removed, inserted, entries posted thereon, and the like.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which a maximum number of cards may be accommodated in a minimum amount of space, for ready access thereto by an operator,

A further object of the invention is to provide novel means for housing the maximum number of cards in a given space and for bringing them expeditiously and efficiently to the position of accessv A further object is to provide means for storing the cards, when away from the position. of access in a most compact manner, and for separating. the card holding receptacles or the like, quite widely, at the position of access, to-facilitate work upon and with. the cards.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of mobile card holding trays and receptacles which may be readily brought to a position of access, from remote storage positions, without any danger of the cards becoming disarranged or dislodged; To this end, the invention aims to provide improved means for maintaining the card holding receptacles steady and in upright position at all times.

A further object is to provide means for bringing the card holding trays or receptacles from: remote storage positions, to the position of access, in either of two directions, depending upon the position of theparticular tray or receptacle desired.

Another object of the invention. is toprovide improved means, characterized by quietness and smoothness in operation, for conveying the card holders from inaccessible to accessible positions, with the greatest speed and convenience.

A further obiect is: tosimplify filing equipment adapted to handle a maximum number of cards or other records in a minimum of space, toreduce the number of. parts of such an apparatus, to simplify the constructionthereof, and to' reduce the manufacturing cost.

Other and further objects and advantages of the inventi-on will be apparent from a consideration of the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, shown in. the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front and righthandside of the pparatus;

Figure 2 is a vertical section. looking. toward the left on Figure 1;

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Figure 3 is a similar view, looking in the opposite direction or toward the inside of the right-hand end Wall;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section, taken substantially on line 4-4- of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an isometric view, with a central section broken away, showing one of the trays for supporting the card holding receptacles, and certain associated parts, and

Figure 6 is a vertical section taken through one of the trays, on line 66 of Figure 5, showing its support ing and controlling mechanisms.

The apparatus preferably comprises a cabinet, indicated generally at 10, comprising an upwardly and forwardly inclined front wall 11, a right-hand side or end wall 12, a left-hand side or end wall 13, a top wall or cover 14, and a rear wall 15. The frontwall 11 preferably terminates below the upper forward corner of the cabinet, to provide an enlarged access opening 16, having a closure comprising a plurality of hingedly interconnected sections 17, 18, and 19. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower closure section 17 is hinged to the upper edge of the front wall 11, by a piano-type hinge; the intermediate section 18 is similarly connected to the upper edge of the lower section; and the upper section 19 is similarly connected to the upper edge of the inter? mediate section- A plurality of brackets 20 carried by the front wall may receive the upper edge of the upper section 19, when the parts are in the open, lowered position, as shown in Figure 1. Preferably, the intermediate section is provided on its inner surface with a board or slab 21, having a plane, upper surface, to serve as a working surface for the operator when the closure is in the open position.

The end or side walls. 12 and 13 (Figures 2 and 3) preferably are constituted by aluminum castings, each in two sections 12a, 12b, and 13a and 13b, having inwardly projecting flanges 12c, 12d, and and 13d, respectively, along their meeting edges, which may be held together by suitable bolts 22.

The side or end members 12 and 13 are held in rigidly spaced relation by front and rear transverse angle frame members 23 and 24 adjacent the lower corners of the casing, by tie rods 23' and 24, and by the sprocket shafts hereinafter referred to.

If desired, the side or end walls 12 and 13 may further comprise triangular sheets or plates 25 and 26, extending from the rear edges of the cast sections 12a, 12b, 13a, and 13b, to the rear wall 15'. Suitable horizontal angle frame members 27 and 28 and vertical corner members 27' and 28' may be employed to complete the framework and to support the back wall 15 and the cover 14, the latter being readily removable, if desired.

Suitable integral bosses associated with the inner faces of the upper side wall castings 12d and 13d support, by any appropriate means, bearings for an upper, transverse shaft 30 which, if desired, may take the form of a tubular shaft (not shown), with a tie rod extending therethrough, from one side plate to the other. Fixed upon the rotatable shaft 30 are a pair of sprockets 31 and 32 spaced from the ends thereof, and a third sprocket 33 at the left-hand end. A similarly mounted lower shaft 35 carries a pair of sprockets 36 and 37, in vertical alignment with the sprockets 31 and 32, respectively. It should be noted that these sprockets are of relatively small diameter.

A pair of chains 38 and 29 are trained about the sprockets 31 and 36, and 32 and 37, respectively. Preferably, the lower shaft 35 and the sprockets thereon are disposed somewhat to the rear of the upper shaft 30, so that the chains are trained for movement along an upright path which includes two straight line runs, inclined forwardly to the vertical, and substantially par- 3 allel to the front wall 11, and two curved portions at the ends of the straight runs, of small radius equal to the radius of the sprockets.

The third sprocket 33 on the left-hand end of shaft 30 is connected by a chain 38 with the driving sprocket of a speed reducer 40, at the left-hand rear upper portion of the cabinet. The speed reducer is driven by a reversible electric motor 41, through a V-belt 42 or the like. The motor is suitably mounted upon the frame, adjacent the upper rear right-hand corner of the cabinet, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Within the cabinet, and supported by the chains 38 and 39 for translational movement, are a plurality of trays 45, adapted removably to support card filing receptacles,

drawers, or trays, as indicated at 46 in Figure l, but

omitted in Figures 2-6, both inclusive. The manner of supporting and controlling the movements of the trays 45 constitutes important features of the present invention. Certain spaced links of the chains 33 and 39 are provided with outwardly projecting, apertured lugs 47 (Figure 6) to which outwardly projecting supporting arms are pivotally connected. The supporting arms projecting from chain 38, Figure 3, are arranged in pairs 48 and 49, which converge toward each other and are interconnected at their outer ends. Similarly, the arms connected to the chain 39 are arranged in pairs, as at 50 and 51 (Figure 2), which converge and are interconnected.

Referring again to Figure 6, the interconnection at the end of each pair of arms consists of a stub shaft 52, journalled in aligned apertures, and having suitable washers or spacer collars 53, 54, and 55 thereon. Thus, the angularly disposed supporting arms 48 and 49, and 50 and 51, respectively, are pivotally connected to each other by the stub shafts 52 and the latter are free to rotate with respect to the arms.

The inner ends of the stub shafts 52 are rigidly connected to and support forwardly and rearwardly extending bars, indicated at 56 and 57 in Figure 6. The outer end of the left-hand stub shaft 52 is rigidly connected to and supports a cam following, stabilizing arm 58, while the right-hand stub shaft has a cam following, stabilizing arm 59 fixedly secured thereto.

By reference to Figures 2, 3, and 5, it is apparent that the stabilizing arms 58 and 59 project from their stub shafts in different angular relations. When the trays 45 are supported on the bars 56 and 57, for instance, by outwardly projecting down-turned flanges 45a and 45b, the cam following stabilizing arms, therefore, project in different angular relation from the tray; the right-hand arm 59 projects upwardly and forwardly, and the lefthand arm 58 upwardly and rearwardly, for purposes hereinafter explained.

Suitably journalled on the outer ends of the stabilizing arms 58 and 59 are outwardly projecting cam following rollers 60 and 61, respectively, having enlarged washers or flanges 60' and 61' associated therewith.

The right-hand end wall castings 12a and 12b are provided with integral, inwardly projecting ribs defining therebetween an endless cam track 62 which is of roundended, oblong shape, or of a shape which is substantially elliptical, but which includes straight sections 62a and 62b and curved end sections 620 and 62d. The cam following rollers 61 are arranged to travel in this track, and the shape and relative position of the track is such that the cam following rollers and arms 59 maintain the trays 45 in a horizontal position at all times during their movement throughout their round-ended, oblong path, and prevent overturning of the trays.

The construction at the left-hand end is substantially identical, except that the cam track is offset with respect to cam track 62. The left-hand end wall castings 13b and 130 are provided with ribs defining therebetween a cam track 63, including straight sections 63a and 63b and curved end sections 630 and 63d. The cam fol- 4 lowing rollers 60 associated with the arms 58 are disposed in the track 63. In view of the different angles of projection of the arms 58 and 59 from the trays 45, the rollers 60 and 61 are offset from each other. Accordingly, it is necessary to offset the tracks 62 and 63 a corresponding amount.

This arrangement lends stability to the trays, particularly during their travel around the curved portions of their path of movement, since each tray, in effect, is constantly in engagement at two spaced points with its cam track guiding means. If only one cam following roller were provided for each tray, or if rollers at opposite ends of the trays engaged the cam tracks at the same points at all times, the trays would be unstable when the rollers were travelling along certain portions of the track, where overturning tendencies would only be resisted by movement of the rollers lengthwise of the tracks. In other words, the rollers naturally have considerable freedom of movement along the length of the track, but negligible movement transversely thereof. By making engagement with the tracks at spaced points, any tendency of the trays to tip on their center lines where they are supported is resisted by one or the other of the rollers, since one or the other must always tend to move transversely of the track at all points in the path of movement of the trays.

Mounted upon the side wall of the cabinet, adjacent the access opening thereof, is a motor control switch 65 for the reversible motor 41. The switch and the motor control circuit may be of well known type, so arranged that, when the control disc of the switch is turned forwardly, the motor is energized to drive the chains and rotate the trays forwardly, or in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 2, and when turned rearwardly, to operate the mechanism in the opposite direction.

The invention also contemplates using automatic braking means of well known type, such as an electromagnetic brake which is energized when the switch is turned to neutral, 0E position, or a current reversing type of brake, which applies a current in a reverse direction to the motor for a short period of time, until the motor and the other parts come to rest. The invention also contemplates the use of an automatic, push button control, to bring any desired tray, automatically to a position of access in alignment with the working surface 21, but since this mechanism is the subject of another application, it will not be described herein.

It is thought that the operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be apparent from a consideration of the foregoing description of a preferred embodiment. When the apparatus is to be put into use, the closure for the opening 16 is moved from the position shown in Figures 2 and 3 to that of Figure 1, by swinging the upper section 19 downwardly and inwardly until its edge is supported on the brackets 20, whereupon the intermediate section 18 will assume the horizontal position, with the slab 21 serving as a working surface. When the motor is energized, either in a forward or rearward direction, the upper shaft is positively driven by the speed reducer 40 and the chain 38'. The two chains 38 and 39 are driven in unison and move the trays 45, supported thereby, past the access opening, successively.

The cycle of movement of the trays is of importance and results in an improved mode of operation. The trays when moving with the chains along the straight runs thereof, move in unison with, and at the same speed as, the chains. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the trays are quite closely spaced together during these portions of their travel, and each is disposed substantially above and in alignment with the one below, providing a compact arrangement and accommodating a maximum number of cards in a minimum space. When the upper supporting arms for the trays start moving around the upper curved portion of the path of movement of the chains, the movement of the trays is considerably accelerated. As the pairs of arms continue around the sprocket, their inner ends are drawn together, since the chain connecting the arms is now on acurved line instead" of on a straight line. Moreover, sincethe radius of the path of movement of each tray isvery substantially greater than the radius of the path of movement ofthe chains, the speed of movement of the trays is greatly accelerated and the space between the trays correspondingly increased. Thus, as shown in FiguresZ and. 3, the uppermost tray is spaced a substantial. distance from the ones therebelow and is substantially out of vertical alignment. with both. Hence, the upper tray does not interfere with an operator working' on the cards in the receptacle on the tray adjacent to the access opening. As the movement of the chain continues, however, the trays again assume their compact, closely spaced relation, during travel along the next straight run of the chains.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity, by reference to the preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it must be understood that it is not limited to the details of construction shown and described, but includes all modifications coming within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

We claim:

1. A filing apparatus comprising a cabinet, a horizontal shaft journalled therein having sprockets adjacent its ends, a pair of lower sprockets aligned with the first mentioned ones, a chain trained about each upper and lower pair of sprockets, means for rotating the sprockets and moving the chains, a plurality of pairs of arms having their ends pivotally secured to the chain and their outer ends interconnected on common axes, a plurality of trays having their ends pivotally connected to the last mentioned ends of the arms, for translational movement along an upright, round-ended, oblong path, a curved cam track adjacent each end of the trays, corresponding in shape to but offset from the curved portions of said path, and cam following means fixed with respect to the opposite ends of the trays, cooperating with said cam tracks to maintain the trays in horizontal position and to prevent overturning thereof, said cam following arms being fixed to the trays coaxially with the connection of the supporting arms to the trays, and said cam following arms at opposite ends of the trays projecting therefrom in different angular relations, whereby they cooperate with different portions of the cam tracks at all times.

2. A filing apparatus comprising a pair of chains trained for movement along closed, substantially upright, parallel paths having curved ends and straight intermediate runs, a plurality of pairs of outwardly projecting arms having their inner ends pivotally connected to each chain in spaced relation and their outer ends directly interconnected, a plurality of trays pivotally connected on their center lines to the last mentioned ends of the arms for movement with the chains, a cam following arm rigidly connected to each tray at each end thereof on the axis of the pivotal connection with the first mentioned arms, the cam following arms at one end of the trays extending therefrom in predetermined angular relation and the cam following arms at the other end extending therefrom in a different angular relation, and cam tracks at opposite ends of the trays, offset an amount equal to the difference in angularity of the extension of said cam following arms from the trays, cooperating with the adjacent cam following arms to maintain the trays upright during their passage along the curved portions of their path of movement.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the cam tracks at opposite ends of the trays are continuous and are of round-ended, oblong shape, offset from the path of movement of the center lines of the trays an amount corresponding to the different angular dispositions of said cam following arms.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which the cam '6 following" arms at one-endlof the: trays projeet npwardiy and forwardly therefrom and in which the cam following arms at the other end project upwardly andrearwardly therefrom.

5. An apparatus'inaccordance with claim 2 comprising a cabinet having front and side walls enclosing the chains, arms and trays, characterized in that said cam tracks are formed integrally'with the cabinet side walls.

6. A filing apparatus-comprising two pairs of relatively smallupper and lower, vertically aligned sprockets, a chain trained about each pair for movement in parallel vertical planes along closed paths having straight parallel runs and curved ends of relatively'small radius, a plurality of pairs of angularly disposed-arms having their innerends spaced apart and pivotally connected to the chains and their outer ends interconnected, a plurality of horizontal trays, each having'its opposite ends-pivotally connected to the interconnectedends of apair of arms, whereby the trays move in spaced relation with, and at the same speed as, the chains along said straight runs, but spread apart and accelerate asthey travel around said curved ends, and means for maintaining the trays in upright relation, comprising a cam following arm rigidly connected to each end of each tray on the axis of interconnection with the supporting arms and projecting outwardly therefrom, the cam following arms at opposite ends of the trays projecting therefrom in different angular relations, a cam track at each end of the trays having curved upper and lower ends eccentric to the axes of said sprockets, and a connection between the outer end of each cam following arm and the adjacent cam track, the cam tracks being of the same shape but being offset from each other an amount corresponding to the difference in angular projection of the cam following arms, whereby the arms at opposite ends of the trays cooperate at any given time with different portions of the tracks, to lend stability to the trays.

7. In a filing apparatus of the type in which a plurality of trays are mounted for translational movement along a round-ended, oblong path, means for supporting and stabilizing each tray, comprising a pair of parallel endless chains, a pair of arms having their inner ends pivotally connected to each chain in spaced relation and converging at their outer ends, a stub shaft journalled in the outer ends of each pair of arms and interconnecting the same, a non-rotatable connection between each stub shaft and one end of the tray, a cam following arm non-rotatably connected to each stub shaft and projecting upwardly therefrom, the cam following arms at opposite ends of each tray projecting therefrom at different angles, and a cam track for preventing angular movement of each cam following arm, its stud shaft and the tray.

8. The combination of claim 7 characterized in that the connection between each tray and each stub shaft includes a bar rigidly connected to the shaft and a removable connection between each end of the tray and the associated bar.

9. A filing apparatus comprising a cabinet, a pair of spaced upper sprockets journalled on a common horizontal axis therein, a pair of lower, coaxial sprockets aligned with the first mentioned ones, a chain trained about each upper and lower pair of sprockets, means for rotating the sprockets and moving the chains, tray supporting means carried by said chains, a plurality of horizontally disposed trays having their opposite ends pivotally connected to said tray supporting means, tray stabilizing arms fixed with respect to and projecting in different angular relation from opposite ends of the trays, whereby the stabilizing arm at one end of each tray is offset from the corresponding arm at the other, and guiding means for the ends of the arms at opposite ends of the trays, offset from each other an amount equal to the offset of said ends for causing the stabilizing arms to follow equally shaped paths, offset from each other and from the tray supporting means, the offset of the stabilizing arms and guiding means being such that the stabilizing arms at opposite 1 ends of the trays always cooperate simultaneously with different portions of their respective paths.

10. A filing apparatus comprising a cabinet, a pair of spaced upper sprockets journalled on a common horizontal axis therein, a pair of lower, coaxial sprockets aligned with the first mentioned ones, a chain trained about each upper and lower pair of sprockets, means for rotating the sprockets in unison, supporting arms connected to and projecting outwardly from both of said chains, a plurality of trays having their opposite ends pivotally connected to the outer ends of said arms for translational movement along an upright, round-ended, oblong path; stabilizing arms fixed with respect to and projecting from opposite ends of the trays, the stabilizing arms at one of the ends of the trays all projecting therefrom in the same predetermined angular relation, and the stabilizing arms at the other ends of the trays all projecting therefrom in a different, common angular relation; and guiding means adjacent the outer ends of the two sets of stabilizing arms, offset from each other by an amount equal to the ofiset of said outer ends resulting from the difference in their angular projections, whereby the outer ends of said stabilizing arms at opposite ends of the trays always cooperate simultaneously with difierent points in their paths References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 867,804 Davis et al. Oct. 8, 1907 893,563 Basler July 14, 1908 1,008,823 Hill Nov. 14, 1911 1,643,224 Shelton Sept. 20, 1927 1,907,971 James May 9, 1933 2,125,619 Parent Aug. 2, 1938 2,223,997 Lorentzen Dec. 3, 1940 2,419,392 Doniak Apr. 22, 1947 2,603,547 Zook July 15, 1952 

